Discussion»Questions»Life and Society» Freedom of speech is the liberty to speak opinions without fear from government but is government the only thing to fear?
Yes, you have the freedom to say Mexicans are rapists, Syrian refugees are terrorists, and women are horrible b*tches who deserve to be grabbed by their genitalia.
And if you DO say those things, or forgive someone who says those things, then you ARE deplorable, and I will deplore you with whatever rhetorical ferocity I can muster.
If you don't want to be accused of such negative traits, DON'T engage in the behavior (employing or supporting those who employ bigoted hateful speech) which confirms you are exactly what your critics say you are.
This isn't grand political theory. This is simple kindness/politeness we teach our grade-school children ("Timmy, if you call Jamal a 'N*gg*r', Pedro a 'Sp*c', Hassan a 'F***ing Towelhead', or Nancy a 'B**ch', you are a BAD person").
The fact that a rich/famous person does it, or a bunch of the rich/famous person's followers do it in service of some perceived Grand Political Revolution doesn't make them any less bad than Timmy.
I never said I support that kind of talk, I am totally against it. I do not call any one group of people anything. Nothing in my comment had any political indications, none. I do NOT agree with the name calling. I meant it in the broader aspect of everyday life in general.
@Karen -- We live in strange times. As comedian John Oliver pointed out, the recent election of Donald Trump suggests no crazy uncle is too racist to be elected President...and yet the people who seem to most often complain about abridgement of free speech and "political correctness" are the people who wish to emulate, support, and/or defend the Crazy Uncle in Chief.
I read your comment in that context and misterpreted it.
Thank you. I do not support Trump, I do not like Trump, until the appointment of Bannon, I was willing to at least try to give him a chance. . I do not like classifying a group of people into one little box of hatred. I guess everything is being taken as a political statement right now, so I can understand the confusion. Please, please understand that I do not support hate speech, I do not use hate speech. I have a very dim view of those who use it, but I do understand their right to say it. I have never and would never agree with ANY form of racist comments. My daughter is 1/4 Mexican, two of my cousins are 1/2 Mexican. My sister-in-law is 100% Laotian. I have two second cousins who are 1/2 Greek. my daughter has dated both black and white, I have no issue with either one. My niece is lesbian, I love her with all my heart. My nephew has dated both male and female, I love him with all my heart. I have never tried to stifle anyone for any reason. If I don't agree with someone, I will state my opinion, but I won't tell them they have no right to say anything, that doesn't mean I agree with them though.
In a sense, yes. People claim free speech until you say something they disagree with. How many times have you seen that in action on here? People say something and others jump on them and call them names, and say they just need to shut-up? The protesters have the right to free speech, but the opposing side is trying to shut them down. I'm just saying that not everyone respects others rights of free speech, when it goes against their own doctoring. Protesters are being attacked just for standing up for what they believe in.
I must say I disagree. Some will maybe shout stuff like that. Some will also call their opponents very ugly and degrading names, some are taking it the step wider and attacking, insulting, victimizing groups of people calling it anti-PC. That is bigotry, harassing and bullying no matter which way you try to turn it. It has absolutely nothing to do with freedom of speech. One can make their opinion without doing this, or they will have a bad standpoint anyway. To be honest with you, your initial reply reminds me too much about the less pleasant parts of the Trump supporters and their ways of arguing why it is okay to make use of such hateful speech in a political debate. I get all the wrong associations reading this.
Sorry if it came off that way, it was not my intention. I wasn't really talking about politics, but used that in my last reply. Hateful speech is never ok, and I do not condone it. I'm just saying people have a habit of telling others how stupid they are and even getting to the point of fighting over differing opinions. This goes for just about any subject you can think of from religion to how to raise your kids, to having your cat de-clawed. The ones who do use hate speech are trying to stifle those with differing opinions, thus trying to take away their freedom of speech, that's all i'm saying. There was no deep dark meaning to what I said, I guess I just didn't word it clearly. I will take the responsibility for that.
That's okay and sorry for getting my associations as I did. The comment someone made about deplorables, and your yepper reply had me perceive in such ways. I wish you a lovely day Karen.
no. there's those wackos who will punch a 60 tear old woman in the face, and take her purse and while she is laying on the sidewalk kick her and grab her jewelry as well...